Proponents of an artificial reef near Brockville say they need a clear chart for navigating the often unpredictable waters of government. Members of the Eastern Ontario Artificial Reef Association (EOARA) said Thursday they still hope to sink a 2,800-tonne warship in the St. Lawrence River as a diving attraction, but there is plenty to do first. "We've run into quite a few hurdles," said EOARA spokesman Michael Ryan. "There's a lot more paperwork and things to get through than we realized at the beginning." EOARA wants to get a clear picture of those requirements from all levels of government before proceeding any further, added Ryan, who hopes to get such information within the next six months. EOARA wants to purchase the decommissioned HMCS Terra Nova, a 372-foot anti-submarine destroyer escort built in 1956, and sink it in 130 feet of water in the St. Lawrence about four kilo-metres east of Brown's Bay. The $2-million project has the support of municipal, provincial and federal politicians who are eager to reap its economic benefits. Proponents have said it could attract up to 6,000 divers annually, generating $8 million a year for the region's tourism economy. But last November, a provincial Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) official said it was premature to suggest there's clear sailing for the project. Jim Fraser, MNR area supervisor in Kemptville, said at the time that concern over the artificial reef project's impact on the river's fish habitat is just one of several regulatory hurdles still in the way. Fraser said last fall the major unresolved question is what impact scuttling the massive warship will have on the sturgeon population. Ryan said Thursday sturgeon may not be the only species to worry about. "It's any protected species that may be in the bottom of the St. Lawrence River." Other issues will include an environmental assessment of the ship itself to make sure it has been stripped of any potential contaminants, said Ryan. As a result, EOARA will not try to acquire the Terra Nova until it has the sink permit from MNR in its hands.